The flag of Peru has three vertical stripes: red, white, and red. The two red outer bands flank a single white central band, creating a vertical triband design.
Peru’s modern flag is commonly known as the Bandera Nacional, or National Flag, and is also called “the Bicolor.” The current design was adopted in 1825 and modified into its present civil form in 1950. The civil flag has no coat of arms, making it distinct from Peru’s state and war flags, which include national emblems.
The colors are often given symbolic interpretations. Red is associated with the blood shed by independence fighters, while white is linked with peace and purity. Another popular story connects the colors with the red-and-white parihuanas, or flamingos, that José de San Martín was said to have seen during the independence campaign.
Peru used several earlier flag designs, including diagonal and horizontal arrangements. The vertical layout helped distinguish the flag from Spain’s banner during the independence period. Peru celebrates Flag Day on 7 June, commemorating the Battle of Arica.